A man in his 40s was moderately wounded in a suspected stabbing attack on a Jerusalem bus near Ramot junction Tuesday afternoon, rescue services reported.
The suspected terrorist, a Palestinian from the West Bank who had entered Israel with a permit, was shot by a civilian and was in moderate condition.
According to police, the terrorist stabbed the victim with a screwdriver on an Egged bus in Ramot. The terrorist and the passengers got off the bus, and Ynet photographer Meshi Ben Ami, who was passing by at the time, shot the terrorist. Police and medics arrived quickly at the scene.
The victim was hospitalized in moderate condition with multiple stab wounds to his upper body, Shaare Zedek Medical Center reported, adding that he was not in a life-threatening condition.
Ben Ami told KAN News the terrorist approached him after stabbing the person on the bus.
“I didn’t hesitate, and I shot him once, and he fell on the ground,” he said.
"This is another reminder of the terrorist threat we face."
Israel Police Jerusalem District Commander Doron Turgeman
Israel Police Jerusalem District Commander Doron Turgeman, who arrived at the scene of the attack, said: “This is another reminder of the terrorist threat we face. The result of tonight’s attack could have been much more deadly, and the terrorist was neutralized first and foremost thanks to the determination and heroism of civilians who were passing by, fought with him and acted to neutralize him. Their vigilance and courage prevented further harm to innocent people. We will continue to fight terrorism and terrorists wherever they are, for the safety and security of the public.”
Magen David Adom paramedic Itai Shimonov, who arrived at the scene with his paramedic colleague Netanel Lifshitz, said: “The wounded man was lying on the sidewalk next to the bus while he was conscious and suffering from bleeding stab wounds to his body. We were told he was stabbed inside the bus while it was driving. We provided him with life-saving medical care that included stopping the bleeding and bandaging him and quickly evacuated him in an intensive-care unit to the hospital as his condition was stable.”
Prime Minister Yair Lapid wished a speedy recovery to the victim of the attack on Tuesday afternoon and congratulated the Ynet photographer who “acted resolutely to neutralize the terrorist and prevent harm to other people.”
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the stabbing was “a natural response to the occupation’s crimes against our Islamic and Christian sanctities in the city of Jerusalem.”
“This act of resistance confirms once again the failure of all attempts to stop the escalation of the act of resistance in the occupied West Bank and the city of Jerusalem,” he said.
Two weeks ago, a Palestinian stabbed and moderately wounded an Israeli near Givat Shmuel in central Israel.